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NEWSMAKERS 2023: Man raises safety concerns about school traffic in Richmond Hill

Yorkregion.com
Jan. 3, 2024
Melissa Wallace

Longtime Richmond Hill resident Jack Ponte’s story on school area traffic in his neighbourhood struck a nerve with many readers who say they’re going through the same thing.

Speaking with YorkRegion.com in May, Ponte described “a nightmare” he and his neighbours endure Monday to Friday in the area around St. Theresa of Lisieux Catholic High School.

“If you don't come or go at the correct times, you get stuck in that mess and it's a disaster,” he said. “You have to live on this street or in this area to understand the frustrations of what's happening out there.”

Jack Ponte is frustrated by the traffic congestion at the nearby school, St. Theresa of Lisieux CHS. Here he patiently waits for traffic to move on so he can cross.

He described cars going in every direction, other cars stopping illegally, ignoring no U-turn signs and a crosswalk located half a block away from where students catch the bus, so they’re running across the street.

“Every traffic rule in the book is broken,” he said. “But there's going to be a day where somebody, some kid, is going to get killed.”

The Regional Municipality of York looked into the issues and implemented various changes, including specialized scheduled timing plans and traffic signal timing adjustments.

Nelson Costa is manager, corridor control and safety, York Region. He stands beside a speed camera, also known as an automated speed enforcement camera, on Mulock Drive near Newmarket High School.

“Every school’s traffic is different and we can’t use a one size fits all approach,” said Nelson Costa, York Region manager, corridor control and safety. “York Region investigates on a case-by-case basis to determine if signal timing adjustments and/or future improvements are needed to keep the traffic moving.”

YorkRegion.com checked in with Ponte on Nov. 9 to find out how things were going.

He wrote that he hadn’t been around as much compared to last year due to busyness, but “the few times that I have been around things are still pretty messed up. Turning onto Shaftsbury Avenue from Bathurst Street is an absolute nightmare when school is let out.

“Cars are illegally parked up and down both sides of Shaftsbury blocking traffic. Between that and school buses, it's a traffic zoo. On my street in particular, it seems to be a bit better, but the enforcement is sorely lacking.

“I continue to say that there has to be continual enforcement with no forgiveness as the only way to solve this issue.”